STATE COLLEGE — The Pope John Paul II baseball team made its nickname come true.

Friday night, the Panthers became golden.

Luke DeLeo’s blast over the right fielder’s head plated Eric Reed and DeLeo took home on a throwing error for an RBI triple to break up a tie game in the sixth inning to send Pope John Paul II to the PIAA Class AAA championship in a 4-2 victory over District 1 rival Harriton at Penn State’s Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

It was Pope John Paul II’s first PIAA championship in any sport in its four years of existence.

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Left-handed reliever Dan Zurowski (8-1) halted Harriton in the final 2.1 innings to earn the win, striking out the final batter of the game that ended at 11:40 p.m. following the rain-delayed quadrupleheader of PIAA baseball finals Friday.

Ace right-hander Josh Lafferty gave PJP another 4.2 quality innings, allowing one run on three hits. It was Lafferty who was on the hill in three of his team’s four state playoff wins.

Star shortstop James Bleming boosted the PJP bats with a 2-for-3, one RBI night while DeLeo himself had two hits including the decisive blow.

It was also a fitting conclusion to the Golden Panthers’ stunning rise this season under first-year coach John Duffy.

PJP’s postseason run was rooted in shut-down pitching, quality defense and timely hitting. That didn’t change even on the biggest stage, which was a rematch of the District 1-AAA final (a 3-2 PJP win).

The run was also marked by a team always cool under pressure.

No fewer than 15 of the Golden Panthers’ games have been decided by two runs or less. They are 12-4 in those games, and were 5-1 mark in one-run games.

Harriton struck first in the top of the third inning. Jessie Bregman hit a lead-off single before being cancelled out on Grayson Anderson’s fielder’s choice. Two batters later, leadoff hitter Jimmy Bredt’s flare to right field plated Anderson from second to give the Rams a 1-0 lead.

It was the first time the Golden Panthers trailed in a game since the seventh inning of the PAC-10 championship game loss to Methacton (1-0).

It didn’t last long.

Luke DeLeo singled to open the PJP third and was sacrificed to second on a bunt by second baseman Billy Hitman. Kyle Miller followed with a single to center, sending DeLeo hard around third and ready to hold up. But Harriton center fielder Andre Pendleton air-mailed his throw over the catcher and DeLeo scurried in for the tying run.

Following a walk to Chris Kucewicz, Bleming skied a single to left field to plate Miller, who stole third base, to give the Golden Panthers a 2-1 lead.

The Rams threatened in the top of the sixth, loading the bases before Bregman was hit by Zurowski to plate courtesy runner Anthony Calligaro, in for catcher Skylar Katz whose fielder’s choice started to two-out rally. Harriton’s chance ended when Jake Rosenberg was caught trying to steal home. The score remained tied 2-2.

A team never without a reply, the bottom of the sixth didn’t appear to be that time. But catcher Sean Williamson reached on an error before DeLeo’s heroics.

Three outs later, Pope John Paul II officially earned its name.

About the Author

Austin Hertzog is the Sports Editor of The Mercury. An Ephrata High School and University of Pittsburgh graduate, he is in his eighth year at The Mercury. He is a newlywed and an avid tennis player. Reach the author at ahertzog@pottsmerc.com
or follow Austin on Twitter: @AustinHertzog.